Published on 07/11/2022
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VC with colleagues from Aston and Bham womens hopsital
Front row: Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-chancellor, Raffaela Goodby, BWCH Chief People Officer. Back from left to right: Professor Anthony Hilton, Executive Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences, Professor Chris Langley, Dr Karen Woodhall, Professor Jeremy Kirk (BWCH R&D Lead) and Professor Jackie Blissett, Co-director, Aston Institute for Health and Neurodevelopment.

 

  • Memorandum of Understanding signals commitment to improving healthcare provision in Birmingham
  • Aston University and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust join pledge to undertake joint research, share services and undertake joint appointments
  • The MOU was signed to help develop the health services workforce of the future.


Aston University and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWCH) have pledged to work together to address health provision in the city by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop paediatric health initiatives and the health services workforce of the future to deliver them.  

The strategic partnership between the University and BWCH aims to develop the health services workforce of the future together (particularly focusing on course development and delivery, including placements). It will also invest in shared posts that support closer links between academic, education and healthcare provision and support honorary appointments and initiate collaborative projects including joint research, to develop world-leading research and provision in the field of paediatric health and wellbeing. 

The partnership will make the most efficient use of resources and reduce duplication by providing a range of shared services, as well as continuously developing new ways to work together, with a view to supporting innovation in the field of healthcare.

These activities will build on the existing joined up work taking place between Aston University and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, such as shared use of the MRI scanning services in the Aston Institute for Health and Neurodevelopment and joint research projects examining topics including epilepsy in children, eating behaviours and neurodevelopment. 

Both organisations are also members of Birmingham Health Partners, the city’s clinical-academic research alliance, which includes maternal health as one as its key strategic focus areas.

Professor Anthony Hilton, pro-vice-chancellor and executive dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, said: 

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding formalises the existing relationship between our two organisations and represents a strong joint commitment to improving healthcare provision in our city. 

“Working collaboratively enables us to bring together world-leading research with outstanding clinical provision, for the benefit of our students, patients accessing BWCH services and our city and region. I look forward to developing the many ways in which our organisations can work together to improve healthcare provision in Birmingham.”  

Matthew Boazman, deputy chief executive officer of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“The partnership between BWCH and Aston University represents a wonderful opportunity for us to ensure that Birmingham has access to world-class healthcare provision and that those entering the workforce are as ready as they can be.”

Notes to editors

About Aston University

Founded in 1895 and a university since 1966, Aston is a long-established university led by its three main beneficiary groups – students, business and the professions, and the West Midlands region and wider society. Located in Birmingham at the heart of a vibrant city, the campus houses all the University’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Aleks Subic is the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive.

In 2022 Aston University was ranked in the top 25 of the Guardian University Guide, based on measures including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects. The Aston Business School MBA programme was ranked in the top 100 in the world in the Economist MBA 2021 ranking.

For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Rebecca Hume, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44)7557 745416 or email: r.hume@aston.ac.uk

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